What is the law regarding coffee breaks in the uk?

Question

What is the law regarding coffee breaks in the uk?

Answer 1

If you're an adult worker (that is, over 18), you'll normally have the right to a 20 minute rest break if you're expected to work for more than six hours at a stretch.

A lunch or coffee break can count as your rest break. Additional breaks might be given by your contract of employment.

The rights to breaks apply differently to you if:

you have to travel a long distance from your home to get to work or you constantly work in different places making it difficult to work to a set pattern

you're doing security or surveillance-based work

you're working in an industry with busy peak periods, like agriculture, retail or tourism

there's an emergency or risk of an accident

the job needs round-the-clock staffing (e.g. hospital work)

you're employed in the rail industry and you work on board trains or your activities are irregular or linked to seeing that trains run on time

Instead of getting normal breaks, you're entitled to 'compensatory rest', which is rest taken later, ideally during the same or following working day. The principle is that everyone gets 90 hours rest a week on average, although some rest may come slightly later than normal.

There are separate special rules for mobile workers in air, sea and road transport. The armed forces, emergency services and police are excluded in some circumstances.

Answer 2

20 minutes when working more than 6 hours. Check out the following link.

http://www.spelthorne.gov.uk

Answer 3

My understanding is that there is no legal requirement - it's entirely up to the employer.

Even if there is a requirment and your employer refuses to allow it what are you going to do - lose your job over a 5 minute coffee break?

Answer 4

There is no law about coffee breaks. If you mean breaks during working hours, any breaks are at the discretion of the management . They can decide how long the break will be and at what time. They can also withdraw them at any time and there is no law to prevent them doing this. Coffee breaks are not compulsory.

Answer 5

The only break required by law is 20 mins in every 6 hours work.

Answer 6

You have to have a 15 minute break for every 4 hours worked.

Answer 7

I think there is legal requirement for 30 minutes lunch break